Improvement in ships  topmasts



" l To all personam whora these `presents shall conte.-

- Be it known that I, -EBEN BENTON', of Braintree,

iI-lli'l EBENMDENTON., or BRAiNTREE, Massachusetts.

Leners Parmi: No. 105,554, 'dated ,my 19, 1ste.

IMPROVEMENTy IN SHIPS TOPIVLASTS. s

The Schedule referred toV in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certainmewand useful Improvement V1n Raising and Lowering Topmasts; and that the following is a full and exaotdescription ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.`

The present invention consists-4 First, in arranging a topmast to be raised and lowered by and through `an endless rope or llineto which the topmast is connected.

Second, in combination withl the above, arranging the topmast to be guided on the said endless rope in' itsmovement up anddo'wn; and Third, in an 'arrangement of locking mechanism for securing the topmast `in position to the mainmast when raised. i In the accompanying drawing my improvement ,in

raising and lowering topmasts is illustrated- Figures 1`andg2 being `views, in elevationrfrom diffcrentasidcs, with the topmast and mainmast broken oil', to the more fully show the features ofthe present invention. A

Fgures 3, atran'sverse section in plane of line a: x,

Figure 4, a view in detail ofthe top and minmasts, with the topmast down. A, in` thedrawing, represents a` mainmast, secured to and in deck B, and

O, the topmast.` Y D, a ring or capkapplied to upper end of mainmast, withits loop `E projecting therefrom, through which the topinast plays `and moves. f

F and G, pulleys;'the one, F, securedto mainmast A, near its upper end, and the other, G, in the present instance shown as arranged belowthe deck B, turning in bearings of a frame, H, arranged as will be hereinafter described. p

`1an endless rope passing around pulleys F and G,

up and down along the length ofthe mainmast, through holesin the deck oroor B. i t

J, a. ring fastened to mainmast just below pulley.

. This ring J `is providedwith-eyes K', through which the rope l passes, and is constructed with a springcatch, L, in its dovetal recess M, for the purpose of locking the topmast, when up within said recess, by the tongue 0, applied to mainmast.

P, a lever hung to mainmast, for relieving the spring Y catch from the tongue O of the topmast, when desired to lower it, the said lever being operated from the` deck by and through the rope P2.

Q,.a cap applied to lower end of topmast, and, by its eyes R, is arranged pn the endless` rope, being at l one side, S, tied to the same, so that, in the ruiming of the rope, the topmast will be moved up and down and at its other side 'let loose on the rope, whereby it is guidedand steadied in its motion.

The lower pulley is provided with a winch-handle, T, for convenience .in turning it to run the rope; and, to hold th'e pulley from turning backward after the topmast is raised, a ratchet and pawl, U, are arranged in connectionwith thepulley.

To produce tension on the rope, the frame H, in which the lower pulley G is hung, is, by means of a screw-shaft, V, attached thereto, arranged to be moved up and down, being guided and stezdied by the arm X, arranged to playin the slotted uprights Y of the vframe H, fixed to the under side of the deck or licor B.

e By the arrangement ofthe mechanism above described, the topmast can be raised and lowered at pleasure, and without being obliged to mount the mainmast, the toplnast, as is obvious, being run up and down by the endless rope, and ou it guided and `steadied. n

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Atopmast, arranged to be raised and' lowered through an endless rope or line, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combining withl the above the topmast arranged to be guided on the said endless rope or line, `substantially as and for the purpose set-forth. i

3.' The spring catch L, o r its equivalent, applied to the main and topmasts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 29th day of April,` A. 1). 1870.

't EBEN BENTON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, EDWIN W. BROWN. 

